Discussion
I'm leaving on Saturday night for two weeks. Can't wait. Marshaling the first week and watching for the second. (other way round to my normal routine 
)
In terms of watching, there are loads of places to watch, don't waste any money on fan zone tickets.
There are pubs, hedges, farmers fields.
The TT Survival kit requires the following:
AM Radio for commentary
Isle of Man Landranger Map. Buy one here cheap ( http://dash4it.co.uk/catalog/product/view/sku/OSL9... )
Warm Clothes
Insect Repelant
Sun Cream
Take your map, look at some online videos and find some good places.
Barregarrow top and bottom, Gorse Lea, Hillberry, the Mitre in Kirk Michael (It's a pub but you can walk through the school to get a different view) are some of my favourites however I'm sure everyone has their own.
The only thing you may need to do is pay to enter some of the farms fields. (From Memory the Hillberry Grandstand is £10 but you do get to borrow a cushion for the price )
Apart from that, Make sure you have an Ice Cream in Peel, get some queenies from the fish van on the front while you are there. Go into bushys beer tent at least once, and make a kit cry on the dodgems.
)In terms of watching, there are loads of places to watch, don't waste any money on fan zone tickets.
There are pubs, hedges, farmers fields.
The TT Survival kit requires the following:
AM Radio for commentary
Isle of Man Landranger Map. Buy one here cheap ( http://dash4it.co.uk/catalog/product/view/sku/OSL9... )
Warm Clothes
Insect Repelant
Sun Cream
Take your map, look at some online videos and find some good places.
Barregarrow top and bottom, Gorse Lea, Hillberry, the Mitre in Kirk Michael (It's a pub but you can walk through the school to get a different view) are some of my favourites however I'm sure everyone has their own.
The only thing you may need to do is pay to enter some of the farms fields. (From Memory the Hillberry Grandstand is £10 but you do get to borrow a cushion for the price
)Apart from that, Make sure you have an Ice Cream in Peel, get some queenies from the fish van on the front while you are there. Go into bushys beer tent at least once, and make a kit cry on the dodgems.
Heading over Saturday morning for 8 nights, this will be year 14 for me and about 5 for our lad, he's only 10 so doing well. For the newbie heading over Sat-Tue of practice week, check out the Pre-TT Classics on Billown, full days racing on Monday. If weather is bad check out the new Transport Musuem, not the old place on Jurby near Jurby Junk, but the new place, got some right motors. Don't bother with fan zones. For Mountain you can park at Creg (pay I think) and walk up to Kates, Bungalow and walk up Hailwoods, Brandwell and Gooseneck. I love Rhen Cullen, in practice week the TV scaffolding is there and you can watch from those for free (I'll be there). Also like Cronk Y Voddy, watched from grass bank other side of the road two years back. Bradden Bridge is convenient, Bray Hill is a must for at least one session, not Saturday though as you NEED to see a superbike go through there. White House in Kirk Michael is excellent as is Conker Trees.
Alex@POD said:
On the back of "where to watch?", how easy is it to find somewhere to view from the side of the road, and more importantly how easy is it to find somewhere to park safely? I'm thinking up on the mountain, are there car/bike parks organised, or is it free-for-all as long as it's sensible?
ETA: can fanzone tickets be bought "on the gate", or is that strictly ahead of time? Are they worth it?
There are lots of places to watch around the course. Plenty of farmers charge a few quid to watch from fields,parking is mostly on side streets that are closed so all good and safe plus ok with the police as long as no one is silly and blocks access. Best thing is to have a drive/ride around beforehand and see where you'd like to watch from. Can recommend cronk y voddy,ballacraine and kirk Michael. The mountain is ok but can be bloody cold even on a sunny day,the clouds soon room in. ETA: can fanzone tickets be bought "on the gate", or is that strictly ahead of time? Are they worth it?
Edited by Alex@POD on Tuesday 24th May 12:11
Used to live events there and last year was first in ten I missed. Back again this year for two weeks in the Ferrari so if you ride by give me a wave
Ride safe guys
This year is going to be a corker BMW need the Tyco bikes to win one otherwise it could be a bit embarrassing especially if Dunlop wins on the Buildbase BMW.
I also predict Mcpint won't win one this year he'll be close but I think he'll just miss out.
My other prediction is to see how long it takes the car drivers to compare times once Prodrive have had a crack at the island.
I also predict Mcpint won't win one this year he'll be close but I think he'll just miss out.
My other prediction is to see how long it takes the car drivers to compare times once Prodrive have had a crack at the island.
epom said:
I'm deffo going to get to this for a first time next year. Where should I start booking?
Monday 30th May, Steam Packet take deposits for next years crossings. Choice is to get try and get the crossings you want without knowing what it will cost, then book Monday. Or wait till Feb when the balances are not paid and they free up the slots and see what you can get knowing the cost. Then decide on where you're staying, B&Bs and hotels won't take bookings until they know the regulars are not going so that will be after TT. Homestays are same and more come on board over the year, these are run by an agency mow and prices seem to have increased. I camp, book as soon as we arrive so will be getting booked in again at Glen Wylin for TT17.
Or just rock up at Liverpool and get standby,might have to wait through the night and then camp at the old boys football club which turns into a camp site for TT and the lads put on food and drink at very fair prices pitch tent and 5 mins walk up to governors.
Job Done
Just hope for decent weather.
Job Done
Just hope for decent weather.
£18 for a program is a throwback to the bad old days of the "let's just rip off the TT visitors" shtick so prevalent in previous years, even us locals need to know who's who! I could rant on about that but hey, to the positives:
While on paper it looks like being a BMW benefit in the big bike classes I really have no idea who will nab the top step. I have even less of an idea re the 600's but I'd take a punt on Peter Hickman in the 650's. The chairs are usually a battle among the top 6 depending on reliability but Moly & Sayle make for one heck of a pairing.
As for spectator points? The nanny state have taken away some top spots but with a 37.75 mile circuit you'll find somewhere to be scared/entertained. As always stated, go to the bottom of Bray Hill once, same with Ballaugh Bridge. Drove up through Druidale last year for the Senior & watched from the inside of the course, The Raven pub doing a fine job of keeping us sustained. Rhencullen is superb as is Cronk-y-Voddy (tea & cake); just up from there is the 11th milestone, on the right hand side at the marshals post. Free entry but bring your own supplies, nowt there but a portaloo. You are stuck in too but that only caught us out once; idyllic spot on a fine day.
+1 for the Conker Fields by Glentramman church though it's popularity has greatly increased in recent years. Food is usually good. For something a bit different get to Laxey and take the tram up to the Bungalow though again it can get a bit chilly up there! So all this you can glean from other places online and in guides. But what about local knowledge..?
My favourite place to watch the sidecars is opposite Lheaney Road in Ramsey. It's inside the course but there is a path to Laurys Avenue and a road runs from that to the footbridge over the course or you can get to Parliament Square. Why so? Because there's a pavement on the apex of Whitegates at the Matrix sign - watching the passenger transfer the weight so that the outfit clears it is quite magical. To do that at high speed with such accuracy takes degrees of nerve and skill I can only wish for and it's a privilege to watch and a sure way to determine the top runners. Hilberry is another place to really appreciate the sidecars but be warned: the burgers are expensive!
Another place I love requires the ability to jump over a stream, climb some barbed wire and to get there early. Oh, and the understanding that bikes will pass 2 feet from you at north of 160mph.. It's opposite the Crosby pub. From Douglas turn left at Crosby crossroads at the green bus shelter and park (don't block the access); look for the bogs, go through the playground and look for the small gate then leap the water hazard, follow the edge of the field, vault the fence and find a place to park your posterior. You simply get no closer to the action than this. Do it before they ban it too.
I don't want to hijack the thread so I'll leave it there but to all of you making the journey for the first time or the umpteenth time all the very best and wave if you see a green Fraud Puma
While on paper it looks like being a BMW benefit in the big bike classes I really have no idea who will nab the top step. I have even less of an idea re the 600's but I'd take a punt on Peter Hickman in the 650's. The chairs are usually a battle among the top 6 depending on reliability but Moly & Sayle make for one heck of a pairing.
As for spectator points? The nanny state have taken away some top spots but with a 37.75 mile circuit you'll find somewhere to be scared/entertained. As always stated, go to the bottom of Bray Hill once, same with Ballaugh Bridge. Drove up through Druidale last year for the Senior & watched from the inside of the course, The Raven pub doing a fine job of keeping us sustained. Rhencullen is superb as is Cronk-y-Voddy (tea & cake); just up from there is the 11th milestone, on the right hand side at the marshals post. Free entry but bring your own supplies, nowt there but a portaloo. You are stuck in too but that only caught us out once; idyllic spot on a fine day.
+1 for the Conker Fields by Glentramman church though it's popularity has greatly increased in recent years. Food is usually good. For something a bit different get to Laxey and take the tram up to the Bungalow though again it can get a bit chilly up there! So all this you can glean from other places online and in guides. But what about local knowledge..?
My favourite place to watch the sidecars is opposite Lheaney Road in Ramsey. It's inside the course but there is a path to Laurys Avenue and a road runs from that to the footbridge over the course or you can get to Parliament Square. Why so? Because there's a pavement on the apex of Whitegates at the Matrix sign - watching the passenger transfer the weight so that the outfit clears it is quite magical. To do that at high speed with such accuracy takes degrees of nerve and skill I can only wish for and it's a privilege to watch and a sure way to determine the top runners. Hilberry is another place to really appreciate the sidecars but be warned: the burgers are expensive!
Another place I love requires the ability to jump over a stream, climb some barbed wire and to get there early. Oh, and the understanding that bikes will pass 2 feet from you at north of 160mph.. It's opposite the Crosby pub. From Douglas turn left at Crosby crossroads at the green bus shelter and park (don't block the access); look for the bogs, go through the playground and look for the small gate then leap the water hazard, follow the edge of the field, vault the fence and find a place to park your posterior. You simply get no closer to the action than this. Do it before they ban it too.
I don't want to hijack the thread so I'll leave it there but to all of you making the journey for the first time or the umpteenth time all the very best and wave if you see a green Fraud Puma
Mr.Fog said:
Another place I love requires the ability to jump over a stream, climb some barbed wire and to get there early. Oh, and the understanding that bikes will pass 2 feet from you at north of 160mph.. It's opposite the Crosby pub. From Douglas turn left at Crosby crossroads at the green bus shelter and park (don't block the access); look for the bogs, go through the playground and look for the small gate then leap the water hazard, follow the edge of the field, vault the fence and find a place to park your posterior. You simply get no closer to the action than this. Do it before they ban it too.
Yep that's a great spot, done that. I seem to remember you can do it a bit further up and be able to get back before the road opens too.Barregarrow Cross Roads is great for watching side cars, when the passengers have their arse in the grass at top speed you know it's a good place
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